2021 Australian Open First Round – Benoit Paire vs Egor Gerasimov Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Benoit Paire vs Egor Gerasimov taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Benoit Paire vs Egor Gerasimov on and what time does it start? Monday 8th February, 2021 – not before 03:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Benoit Paire vs Egor Gerasimov? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Benoit Paire vs Egor Gerasimov on? The 2021 Australian Open will be televised on Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedule for this specific match
Where can I stream Benoit Paire vs Egor Gerasimov in the UK? Sky customers can stream this match on the Sky Go app. Alternatively, the match can be streamed to subscribers of Eurosport Player, either on the official website or as an add-on to an Amazon Prime subscription
THE LOWDOWN
BENOIT PAIRE
- World number 28 Benoit Paire is on a five-match losing streak now stretching back to last season’s delayed Roland-Garros and he was forced to retire from his ATP Cup clash with Dominic Thiem.
- The 31-year-old had previously lost poorly to Fabio Fognini at the ATP Cup and both his fitness and form are in serious doubt before he faces Egor Gerasimov in the first round here.
EGOR GERASIMOV
- Belarus’ Ego Gerasimov lost his first match of the season at the Antalya Open last month but has improved on that with two impressive wins at Melbourne Park over Lloyd Harris and Marton Fucsovics.
- 28-year-old Gerasimov beat Benoit Paire in their only previous meetings in a straight sets round of 16 victory at the Moscow Open in 2018.
THE PREDICTION
World number 78 Egor Gerasimov put in two excellent displays to beat Lloyd Harris and Marton Fucsovics this past week at Melbourne Park in a warm-up event for the Australian Open, while Benoit Paire could yet pull out of this match through injury. The Frenchman has not looked near his best for some time now and the way in which he lost to Fabio Fognini and his first ATP Cup set against Dominic Thiem suggest this could be quite the upset in the first round of the Australian Open, Gerasimov has the occasional big result in him and the knowledge that he has already beaten the world number 28, albeit a few years ago, should serve him well here. Gerasimov to win should offer good value in the markets and on the face of it he should be able to out-play Paire.
